I was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands. We immigrated to the USA when I was 8 years old to Glenside, Pennsylvania. When I was a freshman in high school we moved to Florida and I have been here ever since. I met my husband in college and we were married in December of 1971. We have 8 wonderful children. Due to medical problems we could not conceive so all of our children are adopted. They are all different and have enhanced our family with their unique gifts. We now have 25 (26 is on it's way) grandchildren some of them are adopted. Our family and our church are first in our life. I am a teacher in a Catholic School where our children attended and now some of our grandchildren attend. That is much more fun then when it was my own kids in the school where mom works!
Life is great and I thank God daily for all of the blessings He has bestowed upon us. We are very devoted to our church and our faith. Jerry and I are Catholic although I was raised protestant. My brother is a minister and he and his wife were missionaries in Europe for quite a number of years. My sister and her husband are Catholic also and work in another local parish as music directors. Our faith is very important to all of us! My husband's family is also very close to us - in fact my 2 best friends in the world are two of my sisters in law - how lucky is that!
Our Blessings:
These are 5 of our 6 boys taken last summer - handsome bunch aren't they?
Our oldest son and his wife have adopted 6 wonderful children. This was taken at Easter of this year (2018). These kids are amazing! They live close by so we get to see them often. Tim is an electrician at the local hospital and his wife Laili works in the school cafeteria.
I can't seem to find a family picture of my 4th, Jenny, with her husband and their 6 children but this was taken on Mother's Day this year (2018). Jenny is a nurse and has our oldest grandson who is heading off to college this year.
The 5th is not married but he does have a wonderful son who has a wonderful mother. We see them several times a year and keep in touch through e-mail, cards and pictures. This is an old picture but I love it.
The 7th lives in S. Carolina with his beautiful family. They gave us our youngest granddaughter - Piper. She is such a love! We don't see as much of them as we would like but we communicate regularly. This photo was last summer (2017)
The 8th and his wife Katie have our youngest grandson, Lennox. He is a sweetie - always happy and very active! They don't live too far away and we enjoy spending time together. This picture was Easter 2018.
Extended Family:
My brother, my sister and me this summer 2018.
My wonderful mother-in-law (94 years young) and my husband with his brothers and sisters - all present. This was at my son's wedding in December 2017.
